Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

An entertaining mix of comedy and superhero action, this is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe that, like many MCU movies, explores loss, father issues, and learning to own your power. Liu and Awkwafina have great buddy chemistry as Shang-Chi and Katy, and, similarly to Black Widow, the romance in Shang-Chi is limited to the older generation while the main character is more devoted to his family (both chosen and biological). While Marvel is no stranger to funny sidekicks, the central pairing here has comedic timing on par with Ant-Man's Scott and Luis, with the added bonus of a tender brother-sister vibe. Shang-Chi also has a biological sister, of course, and she's sure to be an audience favorite. Zhang's Xialing is like an edgier Natasha/Black Widow: She's a trained assassin who wants more out of her life than being her father's overlooked younger child. But Leung is the scene-stealer here, a brooding, powerful presence simmering to a boil. It's hard to imagine a superhero film without overt father-child baggage, and director (and co-writer, along with David Callaham and Andrew Lanham) Destin Daniel Cretton focuses a lot on the characters' backstory. It occasionally feels like too much, but ultimately the writing manages to balance the superhero speechifying and inspirational monologues with witty banter and a particularly effective subplot with a familiar MCU face.

One thing to make clear, even to those not versed in the genre, is that Shang-Chi isn't a straight-up, bona fide kung-fu or martial arts flick. Yes, there are plenty of martial arts scenes (from the aggressive style the Ten Rings members use to the almost dance-like martial arts demonstrated by Shang-Chi's mother and her community) and elements, but this is still first and foremost the Marvel world. The rapid-fire editing (courtesy of Elsabet Ronaldsdottir, Nat Sanders, and Harry Yoon) during the action sequences is noteworthy, as is Bill Pope's cinematography, which excels in both the city-set scenes and the ones taking place against the natural beauty of idyllic Ta Lo. Once the story settles there, it's a lovely, vibrant counterpoint to the darker, grimmer parts in the Ten Rings headquarters. It's important to also note that Shang-Chi features the first Asian lead in the MCU (Benedict Wong, who cameos, was memorable in Doctor Strange, but he's wasn't the main character). Shang-Chi, like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians before it, continues to prove that diverse representation matters.